Orthodontic Treatment Needs of Children Living in Orphanage According to the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI)

The major proportion of Indian population resides in rural regions of the country and out of which more than 40% of population is of younger age group [1]. This strength of a country should be in a healthy, educated and well developed environment as these children grow up one day and will be productive citizens of the nation [2]. Nutrition plays a major role in maintaining health of children while malnutrition appears to generate vulnerability [3]. Malnutrition is a multifactorial disease that can have an early onset during intrauterine life or childhood or can occur during an individual’s lifetime as a result of poor nutrition and/or repeated episodes of infectious or chronic diseases [4]. Malnutrition due to hunger and inadequate nutritious food intake makes children anemic, weak and prone to diseases and according to many scholars, most affected among them include a deprived and isolated section of the society called the orphans [3]. Health problems of children living in orphanage can be complex and clearly related to the living conditions in the institution.